Moses.
Jesus Christ.
Law.
Grace and Truth.
Given by (edothe).
Came into being by (egeneto).
God.
Father.
Not seen.
Declared.
Back parts (Exod. 33:23).
Bosom.
Servants (Heb. 3:5).
Son (Heb. 3:6).
For the moment our attention is directed to the expression `grace
and truth'. Now, whatever that term may mean, it is obvious that it
belongs to one, and to one only, of these two categories. It does
belong to that headed by `Jesus Christ'; it does not belong to that
headed by Moses. Is it however true that there was no `grace' in the
law?
`How came Israel to have it and not the Babylonians, Egyptians,
Philistines, Assyrians, &c.? Yes, it was all grace: as God asks and
tells them so earnestly and so often, in Deuteronomy 4:32-40 and
other places. And was there no "truth" in the law? Yes, surely
every word was truth. But in John 1:17 the contrast is between one
thing that was given by Moses, and a different thing that came by
Jesus Christ' (Dr. Bullinger's Figures of Speech).
The use of the figure of speech called Hendiadys, Hen-dia-dys, the
`one by means of two' figure, is the explanation of the apparent
difficulty. The two words `grace and truth' really represent but one
thing and are employed solely to emphasize the word `truth'. The one
thing intended is the term `true grace', with emphasis on the word
`true'. We have now contrasted with one another `law' and `true
grace'. But we must discover what `true' grace is. There can be no
such thing as `false' grace, and the words `true grace' here must
therefore stand in contrast with some other conception. To elucidate
the point let us consider the usage of the word alethinos, `true'.
`That was the true Light' (John was not that light) (1:9).
`... true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth'
(In contrast to the worship either in Samaria or Jerusalem) (4:23).
`... My Father giveth you the true bread' (in contrast with the type
given by Moses) (6:32).